Folk Art fest ‘Utsavam 2021’ to Commence on Feb. 20

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Bringing alive Kerala’s rich and diverse folk and ritualistic art traditions before a wider audience in 30 venues across the state, the 7-day annual cultural festival ‘Utsavam 2021’ is all set to get off to a colorful start here on February 20.

Hundreds of artistes, representing a wide variety of folk, tribal and ethnic traditions that flourished in different parts of the state, will perform during the 13th edition of the event, being organized by Kerala Tourism together with Kerala Folklore Academy, Bharat Bhavan and District Tourism Promotion Councils.

Minister for Co-operation,Tourism and Devaswoms Kadakampally Surendran will inaugurate the festival at Nishagandhi Auditorium at Kanakakunnu Palace grounds here on February 20, at 6pm.

VK Prasanth, MLA will preside over the function. Kumari Arya Rajendran, Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, Dr Shashi Tharoor MP, M Vijayakumar, Chairman KTDC, Dr Reena KS., Councilor, Rani George, Principal Secretary, Tourism, P Bala Kiran, Director Tourism and Krishna Teja, Managing Director KTDC will attend the inaugural session.

The Inaugural function will also see the launch of the Utsavam Signature song rendered by noted singer Kavalam Sreekumar. The Signature song written by BS Sreerangam, has been set to music by Mathew Itty. The Inaugural function will be followed by an audio-visual presentation of folk dance and naadan paattu led by Dr. CJ Kuttappan, and performed by “Thayillam”.

Leading folklore artists representing various traditions will be honoured at the function with the Utsavam Puraskaram. They include T K Baby (Onamkali Pattu), Pramod TA (Pattu & Kaalakali), Padmanabhan TR (Ambatheeradikalari), Sudarshanakumar T (Padayani), Bindu Pazhur (Mudiyettu), Malathi Balan (Uralikoothu), Rajamma A (Pooppada Thullal), K Kunhi Koran (Poorakkali), Dineshan Thekkankooran Peruvannan (Theyyam) and Umbichi K (Mangalam Kali).

The festival aims at providing a platform to performers of folk arts, many of which are on the verge of being pushed into oblivion. The ensuing edition of the event assumes added significance as it comes as a big support to artists hit by the sweeping recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had its adverse impact on the cultural domain as well.